Dairy manufacturers, supporters and enthusiasts gathered at the Saz’s Hospitality Pavilion at Wisconsin State Fair Park on Thursday evening, August 7 for the Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Auction and the announcement of the 2025 Wisconsin State Fair Grand Master Cheesemaker. Team Emmi Roth — Monroe won the coveted title with a winning entry of Roth Grand Cru® Original Wheel. The entry scored 99.525 in the smear ripened cheese class.
In addition to announcing the Grand Master Cheesemaker, the grand champion dairy products were also announced at the event.
● Grand Champion Butter: Weyauwega Cheese salted butter, made by Weyauwega Cheese of Sheboygan.
● Grand Champion Sour Cream: Odyssey Reduced Fat Greek Mediterranean Feta Dip, made by Klondike Cheese Co of Monroe.
● Grand Champion Yogurt: Odyssey Vanilla Greek Yogurt, made by Klondike Cheese Co of Monroe.
● Grand Champion Milk: 2% Fluid White Milk made by Weber’s Farm Store of Marshfield.
● Grand Champion Custard: Hollander Chocolate Velvet Lava Saffron made by The Creamy Pig of Grafton.
Each blue ribbon entry from the dairy products contest sold during the auction, which raised a record $81,435 for student scholarships and dairy promotion at the state fair.
Leading off the auction was eighteen pounds of Roth Grand Cru® Original Wheel, which sold for $6,300 to Old World Creamery.
The Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board is made up of individuals passionate about promoting Wisconsin’s $52.8 billion dairy industry during the Wisconsin State Fair. Providing educational opportunities for attendees with its informative Cow to Cream Puff display, interactive Dairy Lane exhibit, and cow and goat milking demonstrations while managing the Real Wisconsin Cheese Grill, Dairyland Shake Shop, and Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Auction to raise funds for dairy promotion and education at Wisconsin State Fair, as well as funds for scholarships for students pursuing careers in the dairy industry. Volunteer opportunities are also available. For more information, visit wsfdairypromo.org or follow @WSFDairyPromoBoard on Facebook and Instagram.
Local Results
Grand Master Cheese 18 LBS.
CLASS 15 - SMEAR RIPENED CHEESE - Roth Grand Cru® Original Wheel
Made by Team Emmi Roth - Monroe
Emmi Roth, Stoughton
Buyer: Old World Creamery
Price/lb.: $350
Total Price: $6,300
LOT 4 2 LBS.
CLASS 43 - FLAVORED SOUR CREAM - Jalapeño Sour Cream
CLASS 44 - UNFLAVORED SOUR CREAM - Cultured Sour Cream
Made by Mexican Cheese Producers, Darlington
Buyer: Nelson-Jameson
Price/lb.: $325
Total Price: $650
LOT 5 5 LBS.
CLASS 29 - UNFLAVORED CHEESE CURDS - White Curd
Made by Decatur Cheesemakers
Decatur Dairy, Brodhead
Buyer: Old World Creamery
Price/lb.: $500
Total Price: $2,500
LOT 10 3 LBS.
CLASS 18 - REDUCED FAT OR LITE CHEESE - Odyssey Reduced Fat Feta
Made by Steve Webster
Klondike Cheese Co, Monroe
Buyer: Vessey
Price/lb.: $400
Total Price: $1,200
LOT 14 10 LBS.
CLASS 21 - FLAVORED HAVARTI - Dill Havarti
Made by Steve Stettler
Decatur Dairy, Brodhead
Buyer: Old World Creamery
Price/lb.: $500
Total Price: $5,000
LOT 20 7 LBS.
CLASS 23 - OPEN CLASS FOR HARD CHEESE - Dunbarton Blue
Made by Chris Roelli
Roelli Cheese Co, Shullsburg
Buyer: Novonesis
Price/lb.: $100
Total Price: $700
LOT 22 4 LBS.
CLASS 26 - LATIN AMERICA CHEESE - Panela
Made by Mexican Cheese Producers, Darlington
Buyer: M3 Insurance
Price/lb.: $200
Total Price: $800
LOT 26 10 LBS.
GRAND CHAMPION YOGURT
CLASS 39 - FLAVORED YOGURT - Odyssey Whole Vanilla Yogurt
GRAND CHAMPION SOUR CREAM
CLASS 45 - LOW FAT SOUR CREAM- Odyssey Reduced Fat Greek Mediterranean Feta Dip
CLASS 37 - FLAVORED HIGH PROTEIN YOGURT - Odyssey Greek Vanilla Yogurt
CLASS 38 - UNFLAVORED HIGH PROTEIN YOGURT - Odyssey Labneh
CLASS 40 - OPEN CLASS UNFLAVORED YOGURT - Odyssey Whole Fat Yogurt
All made by Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe
Buyer: Alpma USA
Price/lb.: $50
Total Price: $500
LOT 29 5 LBS.
CLASS 5 - BRICK, MUENSTER - Buholzer Brothers Brick
Made by Ty Saglam
Klondike Cheese Co, Monroe
Buyer: Nelson-Jameson
Price/lb.: $400
Total Price: $2,000
LOT 32 3 LBS.
CLASS 11 - FLAVORED SOFT CHEESE - Odyssey Tomato & Basil Feta in Brine
Made by Justin Lowery
Klondike Cheese Co, Monroe
Buyer: Nelson-Jameson
Price/lb.: $500
Total Price: $1,500
LOT 35 10 LBS.
CLASS 20 - HAVARTI - Havarti
Made by Brett Riese
Klondike Cheese Co, Monroe
Buyer: Alpma USA
Price/lb.: $110
Total Price: $1,100
